Rotary engine.



No. 709,242. Patented Sept. l6, I902. T. 0., J. c. e. H. A. PRESCOTT.

BUTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Sept. 20, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

ZTZZBSCOZZ No. 709,242; Patented Sept. I 6, I902. T. D., J. C. 8. H. A.PRESCOTT.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Sept. 20, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(NoModeL') ATENT FFICE.

THOMAS D. PRESCOTT, OF PHILADELPHIA, AND JAMES C. PRESCOTT AND HENRY A.PRESCOTT, OF MINERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF TWO-FIFTHS TO JAMESH. CLOSSON AND HENRY BELL, OF PHILADEL- ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,242, datedSeptember 16, 1902. Application filed September 20,1901. Serial No.75,864. (No model.)

To all. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that We, THOMAS D. PRESCOTT, residing at Philadelphia, andJAMES C. PRES- com and HENRY A. PRESCOTT, residing at Minersville, inthe county of Schuylkill, State of Pennsylvania, citizens of the UnitedStates, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine,'of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in rotary engines designedto be operated by air, steam, or other fluid, and has for its principalobject to construct a high-speed engine of the most simple character andat the same time economical in the use of the [5 motive medium,provision being made for the use of the air or steam expansibly.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the free exhaust ofthe air or steam after its work has been accomplished.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described,shownin the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectionalelevation of a highspeed rotary engine constructed in accordance withour invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same,taken through the steam passages or ports shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view of a portion of the cylinder of the engine. Fig.4 is a similar view of the nozzle end of the 5 air or steam supply pipe.

The piston of the engine is formed of two disks 5 6 of the same diameterand each provided with integral bosses adapted to suitable hearings infixed standards forming the frame of the engine. In the disk 5 arerecesses 7, extending in a curved line from the center to the peripheryof the disk, the recesses gradually decreasing in width as they approachthe periphery of the disk and there terminating in a comparatively smallOutlet,

the direction of which is Substantially tangential to thecircumferential line of said disk. At a point within the disk near theoutlet-opening the recess is widened and forms an abrupt shoulder orabutment S. The disk so 6 is provided with similar recesses 7 andshoulders 8, the recesses forming, when the disks are secured together,passages for the escape of steam from the center to the periphcry of thedisk. The steam -passages, of which there may be any desired number, aresupplied with fluid under pressure through a pipe 9, leading to thecenter of the disk 6, the fluid being divided and directed into thedifferent passages by a comparatively sharp 6c division-wall 10, formedat the center of the disk 5 between the recesses 7. The disks are boltedtogether and rotate within a stationary cylinder 11 of a constructionmore fully described hereinafter. from the disk 5 is a central boss 12,secured to or formed integral with the main shaft of the engine andserving to transmit the power to any desired point. The disk 6 isprovided with a central hub 14, adapted to a suitable bearing l5,carriedby a standard 16, and a similar-bearing 17 is provided in a standard 18for the boss 12. The hub 14 is hollow and is provided near one end withan inwardly-extending annularflange 20, forming a seat for the flangedend 21 of a stationary steam-supply nozzle 22. Near the outer end of thehub the nozzle is reduced in diameter and forms an abrupt shoulder 23,which is seated against an annular flange 2* at the end of the hub. Thereduced 8: portion of the hub is threaded for the reception of twojam-nuts 25, which serve to hold the nozzle and hub from longitudinaldisplacement, a suitable washer 26 being placed between the inner nutand the end of the hub to prevent undue friction. The construction ofthe nozzle is such as to permit of its introduction into the hub fromthe inner side of disk 6, the nozzle being passed through the hub andlocked in position before the two 0 disks are secured together. Theinternal diameter of the body of the hub is considerably greater thanthe diameter of the nozzle, and in the annular chamber thus formed isplaced a supply of oil or grease, which may be intro- 5 duced through asuitable opening 27, the

Extending centrally 65 opening being closed by a screw-plug 28 toprevent the escape of the oil when the engine is in operation.

The cylinder 11 is formed of a ring of metal of an internal diameterslightly greater than the diameter of the disks, so that the latter mayfreely rotate within the ring without actually coming in contact withthe inner surface of the ring. The ring is divided bya series of verynarrow partitions 30 into a series of inclined pockets or passages 31,through which the air or steam may freely escape to the outer air or tothe interior of a suitable casing, which may be arranged around and atsome little distance from the cylinder, if desired. Usually this casingis not required, especially where compressed air is used as the motivemedium. Where steam is used, we prefer to employ a casing having abottom escape-port to permit of the escape of condensed steam.

In the operation of the device steam is admitted at the center of thepiston and travels through the curved ports or passages formed therein,escaping through the contracted mouths of the passages and impinging onthe successive partitions 30 as the piston revolves. Owing to the gradually-con tracted area of the passages, the pressure at the periphery ofthe piston will be materiallyincreased, and aside from this thecurvature of the passages is such that what may be termed the outer wallof said passages forms a contin uous abutment and materially increasesthe efiectiveness of the operation. .Near the end of the passages theenlarged portions form chambers, which permit of the expansion of theair or steam, and the abrupt shoulders 8 8 form abutments in direct linewith the partitions 30 of the cylinder, so that the steam may utilizeits force to the greatest advantage between the fixed abutments formedby the partitions and the traveling abutments formed by said abruptshoulders.

In the manufacture of the cylinders the openings 31 may be cored, or insmall engines we preferably form the passages by a millingoutter, thecylinder being mounted in a suitable machine similar to a gear-cutterand turned step by step, so that successive portions of its peripheryare presented to the milling-cutter.

The engine is of the simplest character and in use develops enormousspeed, which may be transmitted in anydesired manner. Generally weprefer to employ worm-gearing to effect a reduction of the speed to anextent sufficient to enable the engine to be employed for any ordinarypurpose; but other transmitting-gearing may be used, if desired.

While the preferred form of engine is that herein described, it isapparent that many changes may be made in its size, form, and

proportions without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim is- 1. In a rotaryengine, the combination with a stationary cylinder, of a piston formedof two disks, each having recesses extending from the center to theperiphery and adapted to form steam-passages, one of said disks beingprovided with a division-wall to separate said recesses, and theopposite disk being provided with a steam-inlet pipe at a point directlyin aliuement with said division-wall.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a stationary cylinder, oftwo mating disks forming a piston, one of said disks having an enlargedhollow hub, an inlet pipe or nozzle extending through said hub, saidhuband nozzle having interfitting flanges or shoulders, substantially asspecified.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with a stationary cylinder, oftwo mating disks forming a piston, one of said disks having an enlargedhollow hub forming an oil-receptacle, an inlet pipe or nozzle extendingthrough said hub, there being at the opposite ends of the hubinwardly-projecting annular flanges adapted to form steam-tight jointsbetween the hub and nozzle, su bstantially as specified.

4:. Arotarysteam-enginecomprisingin combination, a stationary cylinderhaving a series of steam-passages separated by inclined partitionsforming abutments,a piston mounted for rotation within the cylinder,said piston comprising two mating disks having recesses formingsteam-passages leading from the center to the periphery of the piston,said passages extending on curved lines and being ofgradually-contracting area from the inlet to the outlet end and beingprovided near their outer ends with expansion-chambers, substantially asspecified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own We have heretoaffixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS D. PRESCOTT. JAMES C. PRESCOTT. HENRY A. PRESCOTT.

Witnesses:

O. E. DOYLE, FRANK S. APPLEMAN.

